From the original post
The photo note
Ate this 2-3 days back but IG was down, lol! #Ribeye #steak with black pepper sauce, #spaghetti and veggies at "A Cafe," the only "#茶餐廳" in #SD! #foodforfoodies #foodie #foodphotography #foodography #NOFILTER #foodpics #sharefood #foodgasm #foodporn #food…
Looking back
The SD Foodie take
Editorial commentary written from Roger’s original photograph and caption. Roger’s own words are the quoted photo note above.
The plate is pure cha chaan teng: a ribeye under glossy black pepper sauce, spaghetti in red sauce, broccoli and carrots, all together on one platter.
Roger’s caption calls A Cafe the only cha chaan teng in San Diego, and a post from a few days earlier celebrates finally getting a proper Hong Kong–style iced lemon tea there. A year later he would be eating in the real thing in Hong Kong — this record shows how much he was already looking for it at home.
The quick critique
What stood out
- Ribeye with black pepper sauce
- Spaghetti on the same plate, HK-style
- A proper iced lemon tea
Bottom line
Archive verdict
A rare taste of Hong Kong café culture in 2012 San Diego — and a clue to where Roger’s eating was heading.